Fantasy Football: Week 2 WR rankings

Randall Cobb renaissance season in offing? If so, it's off to a great start

By ARTHUR ARKUSH

Sept. 15, 2018

Jimmy Graham was a nonfactor in his green and gold debut, while the Packers' three drafted rookie wideouts combined for more healthy scratches (1) than catches (0). The temptation might be to say that the (too) early returns on Brian Gutekunst's revamping of the Packers' pass-catching corps are bleak.

Perhaps. But at least for one week, the decision to jettison Jordy Nelson and retain Randall Cobb certainly looks good. Cobb, of course, caught another game-winner against the rival Bears, a 75-yarder with the final 65 yards coming after the catch, serving as a reminder that despite his declining production the past three seasons, he still has some juice.

And even before ripping Chicago's heart out, he'd been productive. He finished with a game-high 10 targets, corralling nine, including 8-67 receiving prior to his crunch-time heroics. This is notable. Cobb, in his previous game with Rodgers, Week 14 last season, attracted 14 chances, parlayed into 7-84-1 receiving.

Are Cobb's salad days back (sorry)? That remains to be seen. But he figures to see plenty of still-green Vikings' first-rounder Mike Hughes in the slot in Week 2, perhaps with Hughes pulling double duty while shuffling inside and outside depending on Trae Waynes' status. Obviously Aaron Rodgers' status will also be of the utmost importance to monitor, but Cobb, believe it or not, is still only 28, plenty young to still have a renaissance in his future. If if were to come this season, when Nelson's departure again makes him Rodgers' most trusted confidant, it's off to a great start.